U of C Course Selection Advice

[gottabekd]

One course I took last semester (thanks to a recommendation from CP) was GEOG 213. A large survey of all the regions of the world: the climate, physical geography, history, politics, economy. I learned a lot about the world in the class. Exams were pretty straight forward multiple choice. I will say that it is tough to get an A. You need 90%+. I ended up with an A-.

[Da_Chief]

take grst 211, easy A+

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by Berger_4_

What is this Scopes for Dopes and Bits for Twits? Scopes would be...chem? bio? No thanks haha, had enough of that in high school. Bits would be...computers? Again, not a real techno-weenie. If this Holden guy is so good, should I look into getting into a class with him, no matter what the subject?

Scopes for Dopes is Astronomy for non-Astronomy majors. It's interesting and it's a cakewalk. You can get an easy A or coast and get your B without a lot of effort.

Likewise, Bits for Twits is the intro Computer Science course for non-Computer Scienticians. When I was around, we learned how to use Word, Excel, Access and Frontpage. It was très difficile.

It's been 8 years since I took a class with Holden so I guess my info can be a bit outdated. Even if he's not around (is Tracy still there?) I would still recommend one or both of Econ 201/203. There's a 300-level Econ class where you learn to use spreadsheets to calculate stuff. It's as easy a 300-level class as you can find.

Plan to take Evolutionary Psych (it's a 300-level Psych) so make sure you stick with Psych 201. Evolutionary is all about sex and if it's taught by Sears, all the better.

[fatso]

one thing I'd say is to think about what kind of courses and assignment you do well in. I'm one of those people that followed advice of 'easy multiple choice exam' to guide my course selection. While multiple choice exams might be easy for most people I actually struggle with them. For me, it actually doesn't matter what the material is - if the exams/assignments are short answer or essay then I'll likely get an A- or higher. If it's multiple choice I have to work extra hard, and even then find it tough to break a B+.

Think about your strengths and play to them.

[Phaneuf3]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

take grst 211, easy A+

This is true.

Also, I would suggest looking into one of the intro computer science courses. It seems that you're able to turn on your computer, use a keyboard, a mouse and the internets - you've already earned your A.

Plus from what I've seen there are some attractive young lasses that take that course (requirement for business or some other faculties or something) that could use some tutoring.... teach em about the RAM and the hard drive and such....

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Phaneuf3

This is true.

Also, I would suggest looking into one of the intro computer science courses. It seems that you're able to turn on your computer, use a keyboard, a mouse and the internets - you've already earned your A.

Plus from what I've seen there are some attractive young lasses that take that course (requirement for business or some other faculties or something) that could use some tutoring.... teach em about the RAM and the hard drive and such....

It depends on what prof... I had Frank Deur and the class was an absolute nightmare.

[hatty]

GRST 211 is an easy A+ course if you have the questions database that is going around, although you need to make sure this course is ALL ONLINE, if you have a midterm or final as in class, i would suggests you drop the course just because it isn't worth your time. If you take the course PM me and i can get you a copy of the database, Also GOPH 375, i did the course last year in winter, and as posted earlier, some profs take it very seriously, i took the course with stewart, his assignments were very easy, like completing these assignment within an hour and getting full marks on them, his midterm/final i thought were more difficult then people had let on to be, i got a B in the course, he doesn't have a set grading scale, whatever the class average was for us, was a B in the course.

[WhiteTom]

In my opinion, the most important thing when picking a course is to choose something that you have interest in. To me there is nothing worse than having to sit through 3+ hours of lecture a week and not being interested in the material. Of course you could always just skip the classes, but that was never my style.

Maybe it would be easier to tell us what subjects you are interested in, and we could give you some recommendations as to which professors and courses in that subject to take.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by peter12

It depends on what prof... I had Frank Deur and the class was an absolute nightmare.

I had Deur as well. Wasn't as bad as advertised but it wasn't a lot of fun to be in class on any given day.

On a related note, my TA was that large bald white guy that was a staple on campus for many years. He always had gray jogging pants, a black t-shirt and a wide-brimmed hat of some sort. He could be seen walking the city pathways with a large backpack while reading a book. Anyone know that guy? He became kind of a minor legend during my time on campus. Kind of like that 12 year old who was enrolled at the U of C. I know a lot of people who claimed to have had a class with him even though he never seems to have aged a day since his admission. Wait, what was the question again?

[troutman]

Take the classes with the most ladies.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by troutman

Take the classes with the most ladies.

This is bad advice. Those classes are invariably the Women's Studies or Women's Literature classes.

If you feel like spending a semester with a bunch of knuckle-dragging, mouth breathing man haters who would just as soon rip your dick off as look at you, then this is what you'll get.

Stay away.

[Boblobla]

I really enjoyed Soci 201 (no 100% sure of the number) it is a prereq for the second year course Soci 325 (again, not 100% on the number) 'Social Deviance' which is an awesome course I have heard.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by Locke

This is bad advice. Those classes are invariably the Women's Studies or Women's Literature classes.

If you feel like spending a semester with a bunch of knuckle-dragging, mouth breathing man haters who would just as soon rip your dick off as look at you, then this is what you'll get.

Stay away.

You forgot bra-burning, dildo loving...

That was hysterical, thanks Locke.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

I really enjoyed Soci 201 (no 100% sure of the number) it is a prereq for the second year course Soci 325 (again, not 100% on the number) 'Social Deviance' which is an awesome course I have heard.

It was awesome. There is also a Sociology of Sport class. If you are a member of CP, it would probably be of interest to you. Nothing like taking interesting courses in Uni. Nice change of pace.

[kootenayguy9]

When I was at the U of C a few years ago my favorite option course was:

Film 380 F(2-3)

The Art of the Cinema

Intended for the non-specialist student, this course is designed to foster an appreciation of film culture and an understanding of a broad range of cinematic art.

Basically all you did was watch different movies every week and talk about how they transformed the movie industry. The final exam consisted of 100 or so phrases and you had to tell what movie it was from:

Example: A sled named Rosebud.............answer Citizen Kane

[fatso]

Originally Posted by Locke

This is bad advice. Those classes are invariably the Women's Studies or Women's Literature classes.

If you feel like spending a semester with a bunch of knuckle-dragging, mouth breathing man haters who would just as soon rip your dick off as look at you, then this is what you'll get.

Stay away.

Seems unfair though I know you were kidding around.

Some of the sexiest, most receptive women I've met were interested in Gender studies (writ large). In fact, many of those women are very in touch with their sexuality, love men (or at least sex with men), and are open to, ahem, new things.

I know the man-hating type of which you speak, but it's been my experience by-and-large that they do not define the vast majority of female students interested in gender relations.

Plus it could be a numbers game. I bet there is at least one or two single, hot female students in any women's lit class that aren't militant about anything. Being the only guy there could work out to your advantage.

Then again, I'm pretty interested in discussing feminism and the like so it could be a compatibility thing. If you think, for example, that a woman's place is in the home you might find picking up on those students pretty tough.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Locke

This is bad advice. Those classes are invariably the Women's Studies or Women's Literature classes.

If you feel like spending a semester with a bunch of knuckle-dragging, mouth breathing man haters who would just as soon rip your dick off as look at you, then this is what you'll get.

Stay away.

Hmmm... I had a french course at UWO, and I was one of the only men in the class - oooh la la. The instructor was tres belle auci.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by fatso

If you think, for example, that a woman's place is in the home you might find picking up on those students pretty tough.

It's not? I'm confused.

[fatso]

lol!

[icarus]

I have a pet peeve about taking courses just because they are easy. Take courses that you find interesting, whether they are difficult or not. Even if it is difficult if you find the subject matter interesting you will do well.

My favourite course from about 8 years ago now was ANTH 203, because it was taught by Brian Keating and every class we watched his home videos of him hanging out at Gombe with Jane Goodall or with orangutans in Borneo or gorillas in Rwanda.